197 - Directoire-style sideboard. France, late 19th century.

Directoire-style sideboard. France, late 19th century. Mahogany, marble, and bronze fittings. In good condition. Measurements: 94 × 144 × 46 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. An elegant reinterpretation of French Directoire furniture, this sideboard revives the French neoclassical style through a rigorously symmetrical composition and restrained ornamentation. The warmth of the mahogany is enhanced by delicate bronze accents and contrasts with the luminosity of the marble top. The fluted stiles, tapered legs, and discreet metal moldings evoke the style’s characteristic repertoire, based on architectural clarity and motifs inspired by classical antiquity. The result maintains the refined and balanced character typical of traditional French Louis XVI furniture.